Indiana statute
Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10.2 — Retail establishment sale or distribution of tobacco product
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 1: Offenses Against the Family, Indiana Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10.2
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Indiana.
Sec. 10.2. (a) A person may not be charged with a violation under this section and a violation under IC 7.1-7-6-5 . (b) A retail establishment that sells or distributes a tobacco product to a person less than twenty-one (21) years of age commits a Class C infraction. For a sale to take place under this section, the buyer must pay the retail establishment for the tobacco product. (c) Notwithstanding IC 34-28-5-4 (c), a civil judgment for an infraction committed under this section must be imposed as follows: (1) If the retail establishment at that specific business location has not been issued a citation or summons for a violation of this section in the previous one (1) year, a civil penalty of up to four hundred dollars ($400). (2) If the retail establishment at that specific business location has had one (1) citation or summons issued for a violation of this section in the previous one (1) year, a civil penalty of up to eight hundred dollars ($800). (3) If the retail establishment at that specific business location has had two (2) citations or summonses issued for a violation of this section in the previous one (1) year, a civil penalty of up to one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400). (4) If the retail establishment at that specific business location has had three (3) or more citations or summonses issued for a violation of this section in the previous one (1) year, a civil penalty of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000). A retail establishment may not be issued a citation or summons for a violation of this section more than once every twenty-four (24) hours for each specific business location. (d) It is not a defense that the person to whom the tobacco product was sold or distributed did not smoke, chew, inhale, or otherwise consume the tobacco product. (e) The following defenses are available to a retail establishment accused of selling or distributing a tobacco product to a person who is less than twenty-one (21) years of age: (1) The buyer or recipient produced a driver's license bearing the purchaser's or recipient's photograph showing that the purchaser or recipient was of legal age to make the purchase. (2) The buyer or recipient produced a photographic identification card issued under IC 9-24-16-1 or a similar card issued under the laws of another state or the federal government showing that the purchaser or recipient was of legal age to make the purchase. (3) The appearance of the purchaser or recipient was such that an ordinary prudent person would believe that the purchaser or recipient was not less than thirty (30) years of age. (f) It is a defense that the accused retail establishment sold or delivered the tobacco product to a person who acted in the ordinary course of employment or a business concerning tobacco products for the following activities: (1) Agriculture. (2) Processing. (3) Transporting. (4) Wholesaling. (5) Retailing. (g) As used in this section, "distribute" means to give a tobacco product to another person as a means of promoting, advertising, or marketing the tobacco product to the general public. (h) Unless a person buys or receives a tobacco product under the direction of a law enforcement officer as part of an enforcement action, a retail establishment that sells or distributes a tobacco product is not liable for a violation of this section unless the person less than twenty-one (21) years of age who bought or received the tobacco product is issued a citation or summons under section 10.5 of this chapter. (i) Notwithstanding IC 34-28-5-5 (c), civil penalties collected under this section must be deposited in the Richard D. Doyle tobacco education and enforcement fund ( IC 7.1-6-2-6 ). (j) A person who violates subsection (b) at least three (3) times in any one (1) year commits habitual illegal sale of tobacco, a Class B infraction.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is retail establishment sale or distribution of tobacco product a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
It depends on the circumstances: retail establishment sale or distribution of tobacco product ranges from a Class C Infraction to a Class B Infraction in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10.2.
Retail sale/distribution of tobacco to underage person: Class C Infraction (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10.2(b)) · Habitual illegal sale of tobacco: Class B Infraction (Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10.2(j))
Which Indiana statute covers retail establishment sale or distribution of tobacco product?
Retail establishment sale or distribution of tobacco product is governed by Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10.2 (Retail establishment sale or distribution of tobacco product).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.